Perhaps, however, Stead might borrow and get these made for him. As
to the wheel, that must, like the churn, wait till the siege was
over.

"But will not those dreadful men burn the town down and not leave one
stone on another, if Jeph and the rest of them don't keep them out?"
asked Patience.

"No," said Stead. "That is not the way in these days--at least not
always. So poor father said last time we went into Bristol, when he
had been talking to the butter-merchant's man. He said the townsfolk
would know the reason why, if the soldiers were for holding out long
enough to get them into trouble."

"Then perhaps there will not be much fighting and they will not hurt
Jeph," said Patience, to whom Jeph was the whole war.

"There's no firing to-day. Maybe they are making it up," said
Steadfast.

"I never heeded," said Patience, "we have been so busy! But Stead,
how shall we get the things? We have no money. Shall we sell a
sheep or a pig?"

Stead looked very knowing, and she exclaimed "Have you any, Stead?
***I thought Jeph took it all away."

Then Stead told her how his father had entrusted him with the bulk of
the savings, in case of need, and had made it over to the use of the
younger ones.